About the Journal

The Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal (NFMJ) is dedicated to advancing medical knowledge and healthcare practices in Nigeria and beyond. Published biannually since its inaugural issue in 2023, NFMJ prioritizes high-quality, peer-reviewed articles spanning various medical disciplines. Its mission includes promoting open access to ensure broad dissemination of research findings. The journal welcomes original contributions from frontline doctors and healthcare professionals across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention.

The publication operates under the copyright of the Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. It has ISSN number 2636-6487. Despite being a relatively new entrant in the scholarly landscape, NFMJ has maintained its promised frequency of publication, with the latest issue released in November 2023.

While currently not indexed, the journal employs a rigorous peer-review process to uphold the quality and integrity of its articles. Utilizing a double-blind review system, submissions undergo scrutiny by two expert reviewers over a two-week period. Authors receive constructive feedback aimed at enhancing the scholarly merit of their work. Ultimately, the editorial board makes the final decision regarding publication. The journal employs Grammarly as its primary plagiarism detection tool. This software scans submitted manuscripts for any instances of plagiarism by comparing the text against a vast database of academic and online sources. Additionally, the editorial team conducts manual checks to ensure the originality of the content. If plagiarism is detected, appropriate actions are taken, which may include rejection of the manuscript or requesting revisions from the authors to address the issue.

With a rejection rate of 25%, the journal maintains standards while providing opportunities for dissemination. Authors and reviewers adhere to specific guidelines, fostering a transparent and fair review process. Moreover, NFMJ operates as an open-access platform, allowing unrestricted access to its content. Given that this is an open-access journal; neither the user nor their institution will be charged for access to any of the content. The complete texts of the articles may be read, downloaded, copied, distributed, printed, searched, linked to, and used for any other permissible purpose without prior permission from the publisher or author. This fits the definition of open access provided by BOAI. Authors retain copyright, with articles licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

This journal takes a firm stance against duplicate publication and any form of plagiarism, striving to maintain the integrity of scholarly research. As part of its editorial process, the journal routinely conducts plagiarism screenings on submitted articles to ensure the originality of the work. Authors submitting manuscripts to this journal are expected to affirm that their study has not been published elsewhere and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Proper attribution should be given for any content reused from previously published papers, and authors are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions if applicable. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will not be considered for publication. In cases where plagiarism is detected in a published paper following an internal investigation, immediate action will be taken. All authors, their affiliated institutions, and relevant funding agencies will be notified, and the paper will be retracted from publication. The journal's plagiarism policy draws inspiration from the Nature's plagiarism policy and adheres to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) definition of plagiarism.

Plagiarism is defined as the attempt to pass off someone else's work as one's own, encompassing the reuse of ideas, processes, results, or words without proper acknowledgment. Clear instances of plagiarism, such as the wholesale copying of large sections of text, result in immediate rejection of the manuscript. However, minor cases of plagiarism without dishonest intent, such as reusing parts of an introduction from a previous paper, are also addressed. Duplicate publication, also known as self-plagiarism, occurs when authors reuse significant portions of their own previously published work without appropriate references. This practice, sometimes referred to as 'text recycling', raises ethical concerns and is subject to scrutiny by editors, reviewers, and authors. The journal follows guidelines provided by Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding text recycling, and adherence to these guidelines is strongly encouraged.

In cases of suspected minor plagiarism, authors are contacted for clarification, and final decisions regarding the manuscript are made based on thorough assessments by reviewers and editors. If a manuscript is accepted for publication, all relevant reports are published alongside the paper as part of the publication history, ensuring transparency in the peer review process. Journal editors evaluate each case of plagiarism based on its individual merits, relying on their own knowledge and awareness of the literature, as well as input from referees.

The journal's support stems from the Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Notably, NFMJ boasts an extensive editorial board, comprising esteemed professionals from various institutions across Nigeria. Additionally, international advisers contribute to the journal's global perspective.

For those seeking hard copies, the journal is available for purchase at 5000 naira, approximately 3.3 US dollars via the Editor-In-Chief. Interested parties can contact the designated email address for further information. There are no fees associated with submitting and processing articles for publication. However, upon acceptance of an article for publication, authors are required to pay a publication fee of N40,000 or $30. This fee covers the costs associated with the final processing, formatting, and publication of the article in the journal. Furthermore, the journal's website serves as a central hub for accessing its content, reinforcing its commitment to widespread dissemination.

In "About the journal," NFMJ is identified as the official publication of the Faculty of Family Medicine at the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Contact information for key personnel, including the Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and others, is provided for inquiries and submissions.